Waymo Launching US’ First Commercial AV Service
Waymo is officially launching the US’ first ever commercial autonomous vehicle ride-sharing service.
The initial rollout, termed ‘Waymo One’, will be restricted to the cities of Tempe, Mesa, and Chandler in the AV-friendly state of Arizona. It will only be available to certain passengers in those cities, but they will have 24-hour access to it. These passengers will include previous test users of the AV fleet Waymo has been trialing in the Phoenix area since April 2017.
CEO John Krafcik said: “Self-driving technology is new to many, so we’re proceeding carefully with the comfort and convenience of our riders in mind”. The company has beaten one of its chief competitors to the title of the US’ first commercial AV operator by mere months; Cruise, GM’s AV subsidiary, plans to roll out a similar service next year.
The move follows Waymo’s appointment of former National Transportation Safety Board chairperson Deborah Hersman as its inaugural chief safety officer.
